One Injured, Five Displaced In Santa Cruz County House Fire

A residential fire just outside of Santa Cruz sent one man to the hospital with injuries from first-degree burns and smoke inhalation Tuesday morning, according to fire officials.

Mike DeMars, a spokesman for the Central Fire Protection District, said the injured man and four other residents were displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross was called to assist the residents, he said.

The incident was reported at 9:53 a.m. in the 3500 block of Mission Drive. When fire crews arrived on scene they found a two-story home with two garages on fire.

Three residents in the home had heard a “crackling” sound and the smell of smoke alerted them to the fire, he said.

“We had one crew cutting a vent hole on the roof, and when they did flames shot out about 20 feet,” DeMars said.

Due to the extent of the flames that crew had move back and get off the roof, according to DeMars.

The fire was concentrated in a concealed attic space and was under control about two hours later, DeMars said.

Investigators determined that the fire started in a cluttered area on the exterior of the home, but they have not yet been able to verify a cause due to conflicting information received from the five residents.

“There was a lot of debris in the area,” DeMars said. “We know it started there, we just don’t know how.”

Smoke alarms were installed in the home but their batteries were removed, he said.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department reportedly also assisted in the incident and provided a fire truck equipped with a ladder, which was particularly helpful since Central Fire Protection District’s ladder truck is undergoing maintenance, DeMars said.

The Aptos-La Selva Fire District also assisted, according to DeMars.

--Bay City News

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